mls 2015

Yep. Was there. And you're right on all accounts, Joe. The Galaxy attack is going to be scary when Zardes and dos Santos get here.

Also worth noting that the Galaxy have brought in a young American named Sebastian Lletget who has 5 goals in 8 appearances. He's a product of the West Ham youth program. And he's not getting any press.

So you've got Keane, Zardes, dos Santos, Gerrard, Lletget...Scary good.

 

At least MLB, and maybe the others as well, have it that every team has to have at least one player in the ASG. Should be that way for MLS too.

 

Agree with most of you on All Star games. I don't think I've watched one from any sport in about a decade. I used to like baseball's the best but, as HD pointed out, interleague has killed some of the allure. The dramatic increase in national coverage has as well. There are far more opportunities to see teams and players from outside of your region now.

 

I found myself singing to your signature line "Everybody movin'! Everybody movin'! Everybody movin' movin' movin-in!" Thanks for getting Fugazi in my head.

 

Do you think a club in the mls will try to sign Stuart Holden? BWFC let his contract end.

 

I dont know, it sounds like hes prepping for a one last stand contract, go out on a bang thing before considering that,

 

The first half of the MLS/Spurs match was highly entertaining. Rimando still manages to amaze me with high quality saves especially with his feet and if you don't like watching Harry Kane you need your eyes checked. There is nothing physically special about Kane but the guy can read the game, is is ALWAYS open and absolutely knows where the net is.

Gyasi Zardes wasn't a world beater but I believe he knows no fear on when he takes the field and he is just one of those guys I want on my side.

In the second half the only MLS player that really stood out for me was Kai Kamara. Dude's got some game.

 

Even if he didn't warrant a man of the match accolade, he has to already be on European clubs' 'let's pull the trigger on this guy' list.

 

I've seen plenty of Zardes courtesy of my Galaxy season tickets. My concern as always with young MLS players making a move to Europe is whether they're actually good enough to make the first team or if they end up in a Yedlin situation where they can't get minutes.

That said, Zardes does seem to have a Dempsey quality fight in him, and if he moves and doesn't make the first team, it won't be because he didn't work hard enough.

I also think he needs to find his best position. I'm not sure he has the speed to play wide in Europe, which means he'll be in a withdrawn striker role. That's a tough spot as success will be measured by goals, and he may not be given much time to prove himself. And I don't want him to suffer Eddie Johnson's fate.

All of this to arrive at the pretty simple conclusion that it has to be the right situation for him to make a move.

Related, Jaime Penedo has ditched my Galaxy over contractual issues. Anyone who saw him play the last couple years for LA or for Panama knows he's class and I guess he saw his own worth as higher than the Galaxy. I can't say I blame him, although departing like this in the middle of a season isn't exactly what I would want to see as a fan. It must have been a pretty ugly situation for him to leave on a "mutual" parting as the Galaxy termed it. That said, he's an excellent keeper and any team in any league would be lucky to have him.

 

If I were a scout watching I would would have noticed the good:

- I will be kind and say that more than once he made Kyle Walker look unsure of himself

- He was not afraid to mix it up with Moussa in the midfield by bodying him up and forcing him back toward the Spurs goal

- His instinct is to go forward but he really didn't force the issue and lose possession (which has been a problem)

The bad:

His touch deserted him on a couple of occasions. One of those was on a full steam run with a bit of a tough hop and therefore somewhat understandable but the other was under no pressure.

He did badly miss one defensive pressure in front of the goal allowing Moussa an open shot that shouldn't have happened.

If I were not a top level European club he would have impressed me. He still needs some polish but there are tools to work with. The big caveat is he needs to go somewhere where he will play weekly. He needs to find the Dempsey or Harry Kane route up the ladder and not make the Yedlin error because he is way too old for some teams youth system.

 

Oh and it should come as no surprise that Dempsey was by a long stretch the best American field player on the pitch last night. He almost pulled off a couple of memorable moments against his former cup of coffee club.

 

Didn't watch the match, but was somewhat distressed that the "stars" (according to the media), Kaka and David Villa, we're not North Americans. Isn't one of the primary purposes of MLS is to grow the game here? I know we need those guys to add quality and interest to the league, but I just wish the U.S., Mexican and Canadian (were there any Canadians?) players could get just a little home cooking when it comes to plaudits. I know we're not there yet in terms of overall skill, just wish Deuce and Zardes would've hit the board somehow. Speaking of Zardes, still mystified about his neglect from Klinsmann and staff for Brazil last summer. He should be a force for us by the time Russia rolls around. And don't rule out Dempsey for 2018 yet. I've just got a feeling that we haven't seen his best on the international stage yet. He'll pass Donovan on our all time men's goals list before then. and I think he's got a lot left in the tank.

 

I'm tired of LA

 

Damn, if they aren't loaded for bear, though. Seattle had no answer for them yesterday. Dos Santos is the tipping point, in my opinion, to another title. All the while, I continue to watch my Quakes flounder into latter season oblivion.

 

Have to take the Galaxy's performance with a grain of salt. Seattle didn't have the services of Deuce and Obafemi Martins. Throw in Chad Barrett joining the Gus Frerotte Hall of Shame by getting hurt while celebrating (YouTube his infamous TD headbutt for reference) and the Sounders weren't at full strength. That said the Galaxy look awful good.

 

I'm not worried about the Galaxy scoring goals, but I do have concerns about their defense. Jaime Penedo, who I think is one of the best keepers in the league, departed under unusual circumstances. It was described as a mutual parting, but the timing was bizarre. Apparently Penedo thought his Gold Cup performance earned him a raise, but the Galaxy didn't have the cap space. So he was released and, as far as I know, has yet to land elsewhere. The Galaxy have brought in Donovan Ricketts but he's 38. Here's hoping they keep scoring 3+ goals a match. I'm afraid they'll need it.

 

Did anyone else watch the L.A.-NYCFC match today? I think it's time Sebastian Lletget gets a look for the USMNT.